Marvel Encyclopedia in Stores Today

TMEcover.jpgI’m told that the new edition of The Marvel Encyclopedia, which I revised for DK Publishing, should be out in stores in North America today. I had a ball working on this book. I’ve never had such a great excuse for reading so many comic books in a stretch. The fact that I get to share a byline with Tom DeFalco and Tom Brevoort too is a real kick. Many thanks to Alastair Dougall, who edited the book, and Robert Perry, who helmed the graphic design. They helped make this job fun.

I’m told my copies should be arriving soon, and I’m struggling to be patient. If you give in to the urges and pick one up, be sure to let me know what you think. I saw a lot of the artwork and graphic design as PDFs, and I can barely wait to see it all in print.

Marvel Encyclopedia Limited Edition Details

The fine people at DK Publishing have given me more details on The Marvel Encyclopedia Limited Edition.

  • The limited edition is printed on high-quality art paper.
  • Only 1,000 copies of the limited edition were printed, and it will be available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and retailers who buy from Diamond Comics, as well as several wholesale clubs.
  • The book is packaged in a cloth presentation slipcase. It comes with two exclusive prints, one of which is signed by artist Brandon Peterson.

MarvelLtd.jpgSupposedly, it–along with the regular edition–is already available in the UK, and its official release date here in the US is Monday, October 5, 2009. I can’t wait to see it myself.

High Adventure: Back in the Game

I recently signed on to be part of a team of tabletop game designers writing “High Adventure,” a series of columns for the best all-around gaming magazine on the web: The Escapist. I’ve been a faithful reader of the magazine for years and even wrote an article about Prey back in early 2007. Now, though, I’ll be chipping in something every month, alongside Allen Varney, James Maliszewski, and Monte Cook.

For my first column, “Back in the Game,” I write about how being a professional game designer can affect your gaming habits, then I segue into going to Gary Con with my son Marty, and I wrap up with how the second thing is going to help change the first. Be sure to go give it a read, and then tell me what you think.

Amortals: Delays for the Better

I’m now told that Amortals, my first original novel, will be delayed until the spring. For various reasons, the Angry Robots decided that this would be a better launch window for the novel. That means you can expect to see it in the UK in April and the US in June.

I would love to have the book out now, now, NOW, but I understand the decision. What’s more, I’m all for it because it gives us more time for two things.

  1. To make the book as excellent as it can be.
  2. To give us plenty of time to ramp up the marketing for the book.

That means I’ll have a book I can be most proud of and that will sell as best it can. For that, I can be a bit more patient. And so, I hope, can you.

In the meantime, here’s something to whet your appetite: the sales text posted on Amortal‘s HarperCollins page:

Today you die.

Today you are reborn.

Today you hunt the man who killed you.

It’s Lee Child vs. Altered Carbon in a high-tech blast of tough-as-nails future thrills.

Matt Forbeck arrives as the new king of high-concept – with a blockbuster action movie in a book. In the near future, scientists solve the problem of mortality by learning how to backup and restore a persons memories into a vat-bred clone. When Secret Service agent Ronan “Methusaleh” Dooley is brutally murdered, he’s brought back from the dead to hunt his killer, and in doing so uncover a terrible conspiracy.

FILE UNDER:Science Fiction [Future Thriller / Cheat Death / Rogue Agents / Who Killed Who?]

Marvel Encyclopedia Preview

MarvelLtd.jpgThe second edition of The Marvel Encyclopedia, which I revised, is due out in the UK tomorrow. Those of us here in the US have to wait until Monday, October 5, to get our hands on the book instead. For a sample of some of the sharp new layouts (which include only dummy text, not my prose), check out DK UK’s entry for the book.

Collectors should note that there’s a limited edition of this version of the book, just like there was with the original. It features a blue slipcase with a cutout that displays some of the cover art inside. Speaking of the spectacular cover, it was created by the ever-amazing Brandon Peterson, another (former) Wisconsin guy done good.

Mutants Take Turin

cartolina_MC-CON.jpgIf you happen to be in Turin, Italy, this weekend, you can join in the Mutant Chroni-Con, a convention dedicated to all things Mutant Chronicles. They’ll be playing Mutant Chronicles, Doomtrooper, Warzone, and Dark Eden plus (I think) screening the Mutant Chronicles film. I sadly can’t be there, but my pal, the great illustrator Alex Horley will be around on Saturday. See the Mutant Chronicles Italian Club for more details.

Angry Robot at Forbidden Planet

ARFlyer.jpg Angry Robot, the new imprint from HarperCollins that happens to be publishing two of my novels next year, is having its official UK launch party on October 10th, 2009, at the London Megastore location of Forbidden Planet. Come on out and meet authors Dan Abnett, Andy Remic, and Colin Harvey, plus the triumvirate of Angry Robots themselves: Marc Gascoigne, Lee Harris, and Chris Michaels. The event starts at 12:30 and ends at 2 PM. If you’re anywhere near the area and love great science-fiction and fantasy, be sure to stop by and say hi!